“We clearly are convinced this can be a front line starter for us,” said Blue Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos.

R.A. Dickey pitches against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Citi Field on September 27, 2012.

By:STAR WIRE SERVICES Published on Mon Dec 17 2012

R.A. Dickey and the Blue Jays agreed to a new contract Monday, clearing the way for the New York Mets to trade the NL Cy Young winner to a Toronto team that’s spending a lot of money trying to join baseball’s elite.

The Mets receive top catching prospect Travis d’Arnaud as the centrepiece of the multiplayer swap.

New York also receive catcher John Buck, minor league pitcher Noah Syndergaard and 18-year-old outfield prospect Wuilmer Becerra. Toronto get catchers Josh Thole and Mike Nickeas.

“We’re just so close to contention,” Anthopoulos said on a conference call Monday night. “It’s not just about one season, this allows us to put what we feel is a contending team together for an extended run, for a three to five year period.”

The Jays gave up prized young catcher Travis d’Arnaud to the New York Mets as part of a package.

“As painful as it was to trade the kids that we did trade, it might be three or four years down the road before they become all-star status, or whatever is going to happen to them,” said Anthopoulos. “At that time (Jose) Reyes could be gone, (Mark) Buehrle could be gone, (Jose) Bautista could be gone, (Edwin) Encarnacion could be gone. We have no idea what our core will look like.”

Toronto then signed Dickey to a two-year contract extension for $29 million, with a $12-million option for the 2016 season. Dickey was already signed for $5.25 million next year.

“We clearly are convinced this can be a front line starter for us,” Anthopoulos said. “I don’t think he gets the credit or the respect he deserves because of his age, and because of what he does throw. And I understand because it’s so rare.

“But there’s so much overwhelming data and evidence that points to him continuing to have this success.”

Dickey is set to become part of a stellar rotation that includes recently acquired Josh Johnson, and Mark Buehrle and returning starters Ricky Romero and Brandon Morrow.

Dickey thanked Mets fans for their backing on Twitter, while saying he was all set to pitch for the Toronto.

“Now that its official, I want to say that I don’t have the words to express how grateful I am to you for the steadfast support and encouragement I received from all of you,” he posted. “I’ve always felt that there was a connection beyond the uniform. Thank you for making me feel wanted.

“Looking forward to a new chapter with the Jays.”

The Mets began to look at trade possibilities for the 20-game winner when the sides couldn’t agree to extend his deal for two more seasons.

The Blue Jays have missed the playoffs since winning their second straight World Series crown in 1993, and have boldly moved to reshape a team that went 73-89 last season in the rugged AL East.

Last month, they acquired a high-priced trio of all-stars — pitchers Josh Johnson and Mark Buehrle and former Mets shortstop Jose Reyes — in a 12-player trade with the Miami Marlins.

Toronto then signed free agent outfielder Melky Cabrera, an all-star outfielder with San Francisco whose season ended when he was suspended 50 games for a positive testosterone test.

Dickey was 20-6 with a 2.73 ERA last season, capping his rapid rise from the majors’ scrap heap to an ace pitcher. He did it by perfecting a way to throw his floater faster than previous knuckleballers, and tossing it with exceptional control.

Dickey is set to become part of a stellar rotation that includes Johnson, Buehrle and returning starters Ricky Romero and Brandon Morrow.

Thole would give the Blue Jays a catcher who is familiar with handling Dickey’s knuckleball. He’d join a lineup that features former home run champ Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion, who hit 42 homers last season.

D’Arnaud turns 24 in February. He hit .333 at triple-A Las Vegas with 16 homers and 52 RBIs before tearing a knee ligament trying to break up a double play in June, resulting in season-ending surgery. D’Arnaud has been an all-star at several levels during his climb through the minors.

The Los Angeles Angels and Texas also had been interested in Dickey before the Blue Jays swooped in.

Popular with Mets fans, Dickey perturbed team management when he spoke about his contract situation last week during a club event at Citi Field for children displaced from their schools by Superstorm Sandy.

Dickey said he enjoyed playing for the Mets and added it would be “disappointing” if he went through his option year without a new deal and became a free agent.

“If that’s the decision that they make, I feel like it would be unfortunate because it probably is going mean that I’m not going to be back,” Dickey said then. “And that would be sad.”

The Mets had been discussing a two-year extension with the stumbling block Dickey’s request for $13 million per season.

Hiroki Kuroda, a 16-game winner last season who like Dickey will be 38 next opening day, recently signed a one-year deal with the Yankees for $15 million. Anibal Sanchez, a combined 9-13 for Miami and Detroit but 10 years younger, signed with the Tigers for $80 million over five years.

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